Speaking of the Cavs, what's up with Varejao holding out?
Last season, Anderson Varejao played a key role as the Cleveland Cavaliers won the Eastern Conference title -- he was arguably the Cavs' best young player behind LeBron James.
This season, Varejao is playing in a gym more than a thousand miles from Cleveland in Vitoria, Brazil, while the Cavs struggle to replace Varejao's defensive intensity in the middle.
What's he doing? Working on his jump hook. Trying to stay in shape. And most importantly, waiting.
Varejao is a fan favorite for his all-out hustle and curly locks.
He's waiting for the lucrative contract he thought he'd sign this offseason.
And waiting for Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry to "show me that he values my contribution to the team," Varejao told ESPN.com by phone in a rare interview.
"I just want to be treated fairly and I don't think Danny's done that."
Varejao expected to be helping the Cavs defend their East crown by now.
"I wanted to come back," he said. "I love the fans and I really love my teammates. But there are others there that have made it very difficult. It's gotten to the point that I don't want to play there anymore. I'm just hoping for a sign-and-trade at this point."
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Varejao, who turned 25 in September, was a vital part of the Cavs' run to the NBA Finals. As the Cavs' sixth man, his basic stats were modest: 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds in 23 minutes per game. But he led the league in drawing charges, and his energy and interior defense were invaluable to the team. His adjusted plus-minus numbers last season said he was the 22nd-best player in the league.
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The question for the Cavs is, how much do you pay for those less tangible contributions?
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The Cavs' popular forward wants considerably more than the team is offering.[/b] He turned down the Cavs' one-year, $1.2 million tender offer. (To retain a restricted free agent, a team must make a tender offer.) He also refused Cleveland's opening offer of five years, $20 million, and then its latest offer of five years, $32 million, with a starting salary slightly below the midlevel exception.
This is pretty cool and helpful. Basically lists free agents (restricted and unrestricted) that are looking for big deals next year, but may have a hard time doing so because teams will be over the salary cap. 2008 Free-Agent Class in for a terrible summer
I repeat.....Who's going to take and make the big shot in Boston ?
We can scratch Ray off the list ....His ass swelled shut last night.
Didn't Allen hit a game winner just about 2 games ago though?
The Bobcats game ??? LOL !!!!!
A Buzzer beater against a terrible team is NOT a big shot
yeah, but the Cavs are pretty terrible too... so if Allen had hit the game winner last night, it wouldn't have been a big shot?
I can't believe Gooden went 100% on 8 shots in the third. I've never seen him so on before. Cavs looked almost legit last night. Boston was bound to lose one. Garnett gets a pretty foul attitude when he's losing. Lebron was even telling him to cool it.
Anybody catch the Nuggets/Pacers game? Came down to a foul on a three point shot with the Nuggets down 3 with 2 seconds left. JR Smith hits the first 2 shots and misses the third to end and lose the game. They were down by something like 10 points with less than 2 minutes to go and damn near came back and won it. That was a hell of a game. I will say the Nuggets looked like they were sleepin' through half the game. They were playin' like they were on a back 2 back or something but they had the last 2 days off. WAKE UP mufuckers y'all got games to win!
I repeat.....Who's going to take and make the big shot in Boston ?
We can scratch Ray off the list ....His ass swelled shut last night.
Didn't Allen hit a game winner just about 2 games ago though?
The Bobcats game ??? LOL !!!!!
A Buzzer beater against a terrible team is NOT a big shot
yeah, but the Cavs are pretty terrible too... so if Allen had hit the game winner last night, it wouldn't have been a big shot?
Hitting a game winning shot against the Eastern Conference Champions carries alot more weight, and despite what alot of people on here think the Cavs are one of the teams the Celtics have to beat. The Cavs are clearly better then the Bobcats. Mofos talk like they been losing like the Bulls...
I agree, I mean, they are the Eastern Conference Champions, whether you consider it a fluke or not. They are the team to beat. If they were in the Finals last year, you can't really count them out this year just yet.
Hitting a game winning shot against the Eastern Conference Champions carries alot more weight, and despite what alot of people on here think the Cavs are one of the teams the Celtics have to beat. The Cavs are clearly better then the Bobcats. Mofos talk like they been losing like the Bulls...
Right, but Ray Allen has hit 2 out of 3 game-winning 3-pointers in the past 3 weeks - he also hit one against Toronto in OT at the beginning of the month - so, it's really pretty absurd for Ed Powers to claim they don't have anyone who can hit "the big shot" because he didn't hit it ONE OUT OF THREE TIMES. Whether the Cavs are better than the Bobcats or Raptors is not really the point, as far as I can see. The game last night was incredibly tight, swinging no more than 4 points either way most of the night - and the Cavs were shooting out of their minds, going 80% as a team for a huge stretch in the 4th quarter. The Celtics got to OT on the road against the defending Eastern Conference champs, and fell short in OT, admittedly looking tired, and people want to jump on it as some incredible failure? My one concern for this team, and it's legit, is the age and fatigue factor. Hopefully down the stretch the "big 3" will be able to get some rest, because I definitely CAN see them being short on gas once the playoffs roll around.
I agree, I mean, they are the Eastern Conference Champions, whether you consider it a fluke or not. They are the team to beat. If they were in the Finals last year, you can't really count them out this year just yet.
I repeat.....Who's going to take and make the big shot in Boston ?
We can scratch Ray off the list ....His ass swelled shut last night.
Didn't Allen hit a game winner just about 2 games ago though?
The Bobcats game ??? LOL !!!!!
A Buzzer beater against a terrible team is NOT a big shot
Terrible is a relative adjective though, as they were obviously not too terrible that night if they almost beat a nearly undefeated team. A buzzer beater is a buzzer beater, and a loss is a loss. It shouldn't matter who your opponent is when throwing up that game winner because the team you're playing does not change the fact that you either win or you lose based on the accuracy of that last second shot.
Boston was bound to lose one to the juggernaut that is the Orlando Magic, who are destined to flounder in the 2nd round this year instead of the first.
I agree, I mean, they are the Eastern Conference Champions, whether you consider it a fluke or not. They are the team to beat. If they were in the Finals last year, you can't really count them out this year just yet.
exactly
[hokey espn-like rant] I'm not counting them out, just pointing out that last year, they were a terrible team that made it to the finals. They didn't make any significant off-season changes, and are thus, still a terrible team (although 4 weeks in, it looks like a completely different conference, catalyzed by the major moves in Boston.) They met an efficient western team and were swept in the finals last year. I predict a first round exit this season, but I could be wrong. LeBron needs some more help besides Gooden on that squad, especially in the back court.
I don't think that the Cavs of last year would have made the playoffs in the West (if they had, it would have been a first round exit.) I wouldn't call their successes last season a fluke so much as the result of periodic talent/power shifts between conferences.
I don't think they are really the "team to beat" in the East so far this season-- it's true they are the EC Champs, but everyone knows it was a pretty sorry EC last season. The teams to beat right now are the Magic and Celtics.
The Cavs have a powerhouse of a superstar, but rely on him to do too much. I'm simply amazed that formula has worked out so well for them so far, but success relying on the performance of one player is not sustainable.[/hokey espn-like rant]
LeBron is on fire right now. I heard he reads the boards and is a big BATMON fan.
how is he i heard he jarred his finger in todays game... but on another note watched the game against boston ... and sheeeeeeeeeeeet man he can ouyt play those guys !!!!! i hope he's backon sunday for the re-match
Are you saying the Celtics are going to win the championship this year ?
No, I'm saying you go around making calls based solely on the fact that you don't like teams. It's lame. We all say dumb shit sometimes out of homerism or hating, but you just drop bullshit all the time, based on nothing but wishful thinking.
Do we really need to revisit the MLB playoffs thread?
You made some quality calls in that one.
How many times have you amended your predictions for the NFL this year? Still say the Pats "lose 6" ?
Are you saying the Celtics are going to win the championship this year ?
Patriots ?...Celtics ?.....Whatever you wanna do... name it....
Best believe, the Patriots and Bellicheat are going to the show this year and will definitely be bringing their "A" game. I'll take you up on some action that says otherwise.
All this is just silly ...I don't have time to give you details about your lil dudeness right now...i have to go make some real world moves.....but from now on your new name is Meow Mix[/b] ....Soul on Ice no longer exist ....
Enjoy your day Mr Mix.....I'll catch up with you later
Comments
Varejao is good for a few hustle plays here and there, but not much more.
2008 Free-Agent Class in for a terrible summer
We can scratch Ray off the list ....His ass swelled shut last night.
Didn't Allen hit a game winner just about 2 games ago though?
Haha.
Nice avatar, ed. :thumbsup:
The Bobcats game ??? LOL !!!!!
A Buzzer beater against a terrible team is NOT a big shot
haha, yeah - too bad there's no big shooters on the Celtics
They can't hit them every time, dude.
I can't believe Gooden went 100% on 8 shots in the third. I've never seen him so on before. Cavs looked almost legit last night. Boston was bound to lose one. Garnett gets a pretty foul attitude when he's losing. Lebron was even telling him to cool it.
Anybody catch the Nuggets/Pacers game? Came down to a foul on a three point shot with the Nuggets down 3 with 2 seconds left. JR Smith hits the first 2 shots and misses the third to end and lose the game. They were down by something like 10 points with less than 2 minutes to go and damn near came back and won it. That was a hell of a game. I will say the Nuggets looked like they were sleepin' through half the game. They were playin' like they were on a back 2 back or something but they had the last 2 days off. WAKE UP mufuckers y'all got games to win!
Hitting a game winning shot against the Eastern Conference Champions carries alot more weight, and despite what alot of people on here think the Cavs are one of the teams the Celtics have to beat. The Cavs are clearly better then the Bobcats. Mofos talk like they been losing like the Bulls...
Right, but Ray Allen has hit 2 out of 3 game-winning
3-pointers in the past 3 weeks - he also hit one against
Toronto in OT at the beginning of the month - so, it's really
pretty absurd for Ed Powers to claim they don't have anyone
who can hit "the big shot" because he didn't hit it ONE OUT OF
THREE TIMES. Whether the Cavs are better than the Bobcats or
Raptors is not really the point, as far as I can see.
The game last night was incredibly tight, swinging no more than
4 points either way most of the night - and the Cavs were shooting
out of their minds, going 80% as a team for a huge stretch in the
4th quarter. The Celtics got to OT on the road against the defending
Eastern Conference champs, and fell short in OT, admittedly looking
tired, and people want to jump on it as some incredible failure?
My one concern for this team, and it's legit, is the age and fatigue
factor. Hopefully down the stretch the "big 3" will be able to get
some rest, because I definitely CAN see them being short on gas
once the playoffs roll around.
exactly
Terrible is a relative adjective though, as they were obviously not too terrible that night if they almost beat a nearly undefeated team. A buzzer beater is a buzzer beater, and a loss is a loss. It shouldn't matter who your opponent is when throwing up that game winner because the team you're playing does not change the fact that you either win or you lose based on the accuracy of that last second shot.
I'm not counting them out, just pointing out that last year, they were a terrible team that made it to the finals. They didn't make any significant off-season changes, and are thus, still a terrible team (although 4 weeks in, it looks like a completely different conference, catalyzed by the major moves in Boston.) They met an efficient western team and were swept in the finals last year. I predict a first round exit this season, but I could be wrong. LeBron needs some more help besides Gooden on that squad, especially in the back court.
I don't think that the Cavs of last year would have made the playoffs in the West (if they had, it would have been a first round exit.) I wouldn't call their successes last season a fluke so much as the result of periodic talent/power shifts between conferences.
I don't think they are really the "team to beat" in the East so far this season-- it's true they are the EC Champs, but everyone knows it was a pretty sorry EC last season. The teams to beat right now are the Magic and Celtics.
The Cavs have a powerhouse of a superstar, but rely on him to do too much. I'm simply amazed that formula has worked out so well for them so far, but success relying on the performance of one player is not sustainable.[/hokey espn-like rant]
do espn and espn2 really need to show every single game in the big 10-acc challenge?
there's a tnt double header tomorrow. knicks/celtics and nuggets/lakers.
Big Shots can only be made in big games
Early season Bobcat and Raptor games aren't big games
The Road to the Finals in the East still goes through Cleveland....Ray knows this and he couldn't handle it last night.
We all know how Kevin handles pressure.....and Paul aint carrying no team in a playoff series.
Enjoy your MLB Championship because that's it for Boston.
YEAH I SAID IT !!
Every day, in every way, you prove your opinions
on sports to be more and more irrelevant.
Have you been right in the past 3 years?
It's amazing how many times some dude has said the same thing your saying now and it always ends with money being deposited in my paypal account.
Are you saying the Celtics are going to win the championship this year ?
Patriots ?...Celtics ?.....Whatever you wanna do... name it....
how is he i heard he jarred his finger in todays game...
but on another note watched the game against boston ... and sheeeeeeeeeeeet
man he can ouyt play those guys !!!!!
i hope he's backon sunday for the re-match
No, I'm saying you go around making calls based solely on
the fact that you don't like teams. It's lame. We all say
dumb shit sometimes out of homerism or hating, but you just
drop bullshit all the time, based on nothing but wishful thinking.
Do we really need to revisit the MLB playoffs thread?
You made some quality calls in that one.
How many times have you amended your predictions for
the NFL this year? Still say the Pats "lose 6" ?
Still have the Dolphins going 8-8?
Or better yet, HAHAHAHAHAHA ... 11 - 5 ?
YOU NEED TO GET LESSONS ON SWAG.
Best believe, the Patriots and Bellicheat are going to the show this year and will definitely be bringing their "A" game. I'll take you up on some action that says otherwise.
No
False
False and hilarious
All this is just silly ...I don't have time to give you details about your lil dudeness right now...i have to go make some real world moves.....but from now on your new name is Meow Mix[/b] ....Soul on Ice no longer exist ....
Enjoy your day Mr Mix.....I'll catch up with you later
Meoooooowwwwwww